3rd December

The Sundays have got their teeth into the radioactive poisoning sensation which has dominated all week.

None greater than the Observer which reveals that Litvinenko was planning to make money from the blackmail of former spies and businessmen

“The Observer has obtained remarkable testimony from a Russian academic, Julia Svetlichnaja, who met Litvinenko earlier this year and received more than 100 emails from him. In a series of interviews, she reveals that the former Russian secret agent had documents from the FSB, the Russian agency formerly known as the KGB. He had asked Svetlichnaja, who is based in London, to enter into a business deal with him and 'make money'.

The Sunday Times meanwhile reveals that

“THE Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has expressed his anger at Britain’s failure to gag Alexander Litvinenko in the final hours of his life, the cabinet has been told.
Margaret Beckett, the foreign secretary, told ministers that the Russian government had “taken exception” to the poisoned former spy’s deathbed letter accusing the Putin regime of murdering him.

The Telegraph headlines that

Russia: biggest spy threat to Britain

“The Russian intelligence services, the prime suspects behind the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, have a network of more than 30 spies operating in Britain, it can be revealed.”
The startling intelligence was presented last week to Cabinet ministers at a Cobra meeting, where they are briefed on issues of national security. They were also told that Mr Litvinenko, a former KGB agent, who died 10 days ago, was "most probably" murdered by "state sponsored" assassins, with the radioactive poison polonium 210 and that suspicion centred firmly on Moscow.

According to the Independent

Rumsfeld memo admits Iraq errors

Outgoing Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld, the prime architect of the Iraq war, urged a major overhaul of US strategy just before he resigned on 8 November it emerged last night, as scores of Iraqis died in new bombings in Baghdad and in violent incidents across the country.
Meanwhile the administration is awaiting the result of James Baker’s review.The Times reports

“THE White House is resisting efforts by an advisory commission on Iraq strategy to force the pace on troop withdrawals and negotiations with Iran and Syria.

At the Pentagon, the joint chiefs of staff are also determined not to be pushed into “managing defeat” after the Iraq Study Group, led by James Baker, the former secretary of state, and former Democrat congressman Lee Hamilton, reports this week.”

The Telegraph celebrates and reviews the first twelve months of David Cameron’s leadership

Verdict: Not bad for Year One

Reporting on the results of a focus group its leader comments

“one year after he was elected Tory leader, he has done what he set out to do: to remove the bad smell that clung to the Conservatives and put too many people off going anywhere near them.”

“Mr Cameron's triumph has been to make people feel it is possible to vote Conservative and not be a greedy thug, driven only by a selfish desire to protect existing privileges and acquire more.”

Andrew Rawnsley in the Observer says

David Cameron still has a huge mountain to climb

“The biggest concern for the Tories is that their poll leads have been the product of the public reacting negatively to a government which has been in a torrid state rather than signifying solid and enthusiastic support for the Conservatives. In recent weeks, the government has looked more in control of itself and of the political initiative.”

The News of the World gives another warning for Cameron

“DAVID Cameron is failing to convince voters he should be PM, an exclusive News of the World poll reveals.

It shows the Tory leader is liked more than Chancellor Gordon Brown — but crucially the public do not want to see him in No 10. “


The Mail leads on

Teacher thrown in cell over cash-for-peerages says: 'Do the same to Blair'
“A key suspect in the cash-for-peerages inquiry has broken his silence to call for Tony Blair to be arrested and quizzed in a police cell like a common criminal.

Retired head teacher Des Smith, who spent eight hours in police custody following allegations that he was involved in the sale of honours, demanded the Prime Minister receive the same harsh treatment.”

The Indy reports on Fidel Castros 80th birthday celebrations which were missing one person

“With fireworks over Havana harbour and the first military parade of this century, hundreds of thousands of Cubans turned out yesterday for Fidel Castro's belated 80th birthday party, but the veteran leader did not appear.”

“Fidel was said to be watching on TV under medical supervision at home.”

Amongst the Tabloids,a mixed bag of headlines.The News of the World leads on

EMMERDALE star Ben Freeman has left court in Barbados after facing a charge of raping a 16-year-old British girl.

The Mirror goes with

KYLIE'S LOVE AND THE MODEL

“KYLIE Minogue's lover Olivier Martinez has struck up an intimate friendship with a beautiful young model.”

The Express reveals that

“TEN million families have switched off their TVs because of the diet of sex and violence.A Sunday Express poll reveals today that 53 per cent of viewers believe programmes have got worse, with shows such as Davina McCall’s Big Brother replacing quality television.”

The Mail reports on

I was fined £50 for recycling my newspapers

“When Linda Sims left a bag of newspapers next to a 'locked' recycling bin, she believed she was doing her bit for the environment.
But the council thought otherwise - and after watching her on CCTV, it fined her for littering. “